Rex, Woody excited to start over

Coach claims Jets will be 'dangerous'

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Rex Ryan and Woody Johnson met the media Tuesday, wearing Jets-green ties and presenting an unusually united front for a coach and owner coming off an abysmal season that produced far more in the way of turbulence than touchdowns.

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By The Associated Press

recordonline.com

By The Associated Press

Posted Jan. 9, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By The Associated Press

Posted Jan. 9, 2013 at 2:00 AM

what about that tatoo?

Rex Ryan's much-discussed tattoo of his wife wearing a mark Sanchez jersey - photographed while he was vacationing in the Bahamas - came up at Tuesday's press conference. The coach laughed at the q...

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what about that tatoo?

Rex Ryan's much-discussed tattoo of his wife wearing a mark Sanchez jersey - photographed while he was vacationing in the Bahamas - came up at Tuesday's press conference. The coach laughed at the question, saying he's had it on his right arm for nearly three years.

"I know what you're thinking. Obviously, if Sanchez doesn't play better that number is changing," Ryan said with a laugh. "I've been married 25 years and, in my eyes, my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world."

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Rex Ryan and Woody Johnson met the media Tuesday, wearing Jets-green ties and presenting an unusually united front for a coach and owner coming off an abysmal season that produced far more in the way of turbulence than touchdowns.

The general manager is gone, along with the offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators.

Ryan isn't going anywhere because Johnson really likes him.

More than that, "I trust him," Johnson said.

"I think Rex is perfect for the New York Jets," he said. "He is 100 percent this team."

So, basking in that comfort zone, Ryan laid out his plans for the future of the Jets, speaking mostly in generalities and giving few, if any, specifics about quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and tim Tebow.

Coming off a 6-10 season, Ryan made big, bold pronouncements — the kind he made when he was hired four years ago:

"We are going to be a dangerous football team. I can promise you that. I'm going to tell you, you're not going to want to play the Jets."

"We're not going to be bullied. Fans don't like for their team to be embarrassed. We were embarrassed at times last year. That's not going to happen. We might not win every game, and no team does. But you've got to stand for something. We're going to be the team you don't want to play."

He managed to stop short of guaranteeing a Super Bowl.

Ryan told the packed press conference room at the training facility that, yes, he thought he might get fired after the season because he "failed" to leave his imprint on all aspects of the team, particularly on offense. That, and perhaps the fact the Jets haven't made the playoffs in two straight seasons.

"I don't think I've done as good a job of implementing who I am throughout this team," Ryan said. "I want a physical, aggressive, attack style."

To get it, he's wiping the slate clean, zoning out all the bad vibes tied to Sanchez being an ineffective starting quarterback and leader, and Tebow being his invisible backup.

"I'm approaching this day like it's the first day. Period," Ryan said. "Like my first day as a head coach. This is a new chance for me. This is a beginning, certainly not an end."

Johnson said Ryan will have a say in hiring the new GM. San Francisco director of player personnel Tom Gamble has been considered by many to be the front-runner, but he has attracted interest from several teams. So has Atlanta director of player personnel David Caldwell, who was hired Tuesday by Jacksonville.

The team also met with Marc Ross, the Giants' director of college scouting, and in-house candidate Scott Cohen, the Jets' assistant GM. Johnson acknowledged that the team has told candidates they will have to be willing to work with Ryan, who brushed off any talk that he could be considered a lame-duck coach.

"I'm pretty sure I'll have the exact same agenda as the general manager," Ryan said. "We want to win."

Neither Ryan or Johnson would clarify who the starting quarterback would be next season.